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← Return to Tapering off of Prednisone
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Hi @michwest, When I have an increase of pain like you mention, I also didn't want to go back to the previous dose. It sounds like you have 2.5 mg tablets. Do you also have 1 mg tablets of prednisone? It you dropped from 15 to 12.5 and felt an increase of pain, you might try adding 1 mg to your daily dose or splitting the 2.5 tablet and going up half of the previous dose. Then if the pain goes away, you can taper from there. I kept a daily log of my level of pain when I got up in the morning along with the dose I was taking that day. If it was time to taper but my pain level was above a 2, I delayed the taper or I bumped it up a little trying to stay lower and not go back to the previous dosage of prednisone.
Not sure if you've seen this discusssion but you might find it helpful:
-- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/
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Hi @johnbishop - thank you so much for your reply and advice and link to the other discussion which is also very helpful. I will have my Rheumatologist prescribe 1 mg tabs - at the moment I only have 5mg until I see her in early Feb.
I think the idea of keeping a pain log is a really good idea thank you.
Part of me thinks I can just manage with the pain at a 2 or 3. Since I started developing all the symptoms in late July I have not been able to kneel down all the way (never a problem before) I can kneel a bit better after a few hours on prednisone but I feel like I will never be able to kneel properly again because of pain behind my knees. All of that to ask am I settling by not getting to 100% pain free? I’m content to have a level of pain and just deal with it but I don’t want to slow complete remission down either so I’m just questioning myself on dosage all the time.
I really like the idea of tapering by 1mg though - which is the intention I believe once I get to 10mg - but having the option before I get to that dose is a great idea.
Thank you so much John - this group has been incredibly helpful and informative. I appreciate the time you give to answer each of us!